Mon Toc Stresa

... good for what you pay!! And awesome for a backpacker!!
Went for drinks at Frank's Bar which Patrick who owns the hotel recommended. Turned out to be a pretty trendy cocktail joint
where you pay for your drink at 1 place then get it at another. 10 Euro for a beverage no matter what you had so naturally I ordered a long island ice tea!!!

When I finally found Lake Como (after a train, then a bus, then a ferry and then a very confusing walk) I was surprised that it was so empty. It was raining (I think the rain is following me around Europe) and there was no one about so I was able to do my exploring easily. Lake Como is a very small place with not too many things to ...

... it up and buy a disposable camera. We kept going, it was pretty empty, as most Sunday mornings in Italy are, and walked the extent of the town. There's an island nearby, if you want to know the story behind it click here-http://www.orta.net/eng1/isolasgiu lioe.htm-and by the time we got back to the center the town had woken up and there were people everywhere. I'm glad we got there when we did. There was a path around the lake that we walked, then it was time to ...

... The balcony where Romeo and Juliet declare their love is a magnet to tourists and they allow people to write and pin love notes to the wall which are cleared every three months so the process can start again.

The relevance of Como for me ended up being from my childhood when Dad subscribed to a weekly series called the History of World War 2. I couldn't wait for each series to arrive and I remember one story of how ...

Took the train from Milan to Lake Como - short 1.5 hour trip. The lake is beautiful and there was a speed boat race going on when we arrived. We took the funicular (tram) which has a charming little town at the top and a great view of the lake. We stayed on the south side of the lake (where George lives) and then took a boat north to Bellagio. Quaint town with steep streets filled with great shops. Can understand why George bought a house there!

... sidewalk cafes lining the piazzas, and sparkling lake nestled between two lush mountains make it a dazzling city. We really didn't do much other than sit outside in piazzas and terraces watching the world go by while we ate delicious food. And I love the Italian language. It is so enchanting. I was tempted to ditch my life in Basel and move to Lugano so I could give up learning German and switch to a much more delightful sounding language ...

... partners tonight were a couple from Bellevue, Washington. She is originally from Moscow and met her husband when she came to Chicago for a study abroad program. He is an independent insurance agent, and they work together in his agency in Washington. Tomorrow we start off at 7:45 for Verona, then wind up for two nights in Venice. See you in Venice! David & Carolyn

... this where the manufacturing works is the focal point of the town. But then this is not your normal, bog standard factory. Since the 1940’s it has been manufacturing Ferraris, and from the balcony of our room we could look directly across the street to the factory’s front gates, where we would be presenting ourselves at 9am the next morning to go inside for a tour.

Hoges and I set out on foot to spend the evening exploring the small town, and in only a ...

... eternal On a touristy cobblestone street Not that my monkey cares at all I spent the best part of my traveling streak In a train car Going where I can't recall Oh I'm hunched over with my bag And I check the train schedule And I buy my ticket I pour a drink And I hop on board And I wonder where I'll be Spanky's leaving Italy Sun so bright Monkey shriek, gelati On a Saturday night Leaving Italy Leaving for good, for good Spanky's leaving for good"